Your Office Holiday Party Could Land You in Jail

12/15/2011 1:45PM

Hosting a holiday party and planning to serve alcohol? It could land you in jail. Most states have social host liability laws with criminal and civil penalties. Susan Solovic, CEO of ItsYourBiz.com, has tips to protect yourself and your business.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

I ... love people just don't think about it that almost every state in the country as what's known as the social host liability legislation law ... and so it can be held criminally liable I in the health of the reliable ... both personally and your business of ... your fun festive party can be a costly nightmare ... so what do we do we know people than not throw parties with my eyes ... well you really need to think about how your orchestrating your party so what are the things inside tell employers to make sure you don't make it mandatory ... you don't wanna be the party the party to be ... in the scope of employment ... second thing is to really watch what you serve ... you know you've done so far they serve salty snacks right pretzels and the ... people drink or who also hiring a professional bartender ... don't give people the option of having an open bar the dough over serve themselves ... better professional can really keep an eye on people and maybe give you a heads up ... if somebody is being over served ... and it absolutely makes treated designated driver or alternate Earth transportation ... to do this sort of drink on ... how many drinks assert because I think he may you find this is this fine mind of what people wanna see an open bar the Harley's it makes him feel like you care that you're spending a lot and then ... we had a deal with these two but three of the three drink minimum deep cut people off a certain time like the toothpaste ... and get a seven a m right well actually that's a good idea I recommend that you may be stopped the alcoholic hour before the party's over certain iced coffees maybe some dessert give people the chance to sober up ... the other thing is you can use street to get the president can easily get passed around and it's very hard thing to control the King as ... the owner of the business or in hosted the party if ... you wanna stay away from the alcohol you sow ... so you know what your guide judgment to be impaired ... the one of the of of what's what's going on so that I would have to sneak out and ... and leave and then maybe injure someone and family ... it's not even just the law is a moral issue to ... you absolutely would want to be responsible for some of the leading an event that you had ... and that being an accident and possibly killing someone insisting that we don't think about as much here in York City because of course is a cat eye on every corner but ... do you see distance runner of reporting in talking to small business owners around the country as U always are ... that this is something they are being more mindful of the day that have been incidences which a service of warning to them says and I you know I would like to say that's the case I think not I think a lot of small businesses don't think it will happen to them ... so that's when trying to really raise awareness about this you what your employees to happen that I ... don't wanna seem like a parade certainly I bite you also need to make it under control and I think as an employee you have to understand this is a business function ... so you have an obligation often to mind your P's and Q's sale I think it to say that about a lot of heartache potentially I dunno I guess I'm in a wait and see what it does does that you can say you